Cotton chopper and cultivator.



J. W. McMILLANu COTTON CHOPPER AND OULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILEDJAN.14,1911.

1,025,761 Patented May 7, 1912.

3 BHEETS-S HEET 1.1

WITNESSES l9 jQ/KMM John W r 9* ATTORNEYS J. W. McMILLAN. COTTON CHOPPERAND CULTIVATOB.

APPLICATION FILED JAH.14, 1911. 1,025,761 Patented May 7, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES S riIIVI/ENTIOI? John W. Mil cm jy/flm ATTORNEYS JOHN WILLIAMMOMILLAN, 0E EL'DORADO, ARKANSAS.

COTTON CHOPPER AND CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 14, 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

Serial No. 692,560.

To all whom it may concern i Be it known that I, JOHN W. MCMILLAN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of El Dorado, in the countyof Union and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and Improved CottonChopper and Cultivator, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to a new and improved device which is adapted tosimultaneously chop cotton plants or the like and cultivate the same.

An object of this invention is to provide an implement which willsimultaneously thin cotton plants and cultivate the same, which will besimple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture,

strong, durable, readily adjusted and easily operated.

Another object of this'invention is to provide an implement with one ormore hoes, adjustable as to their angle and depth of penetration, andhaving means for yielding in case of coming in contact with obstacles.

A further object of this invention is to provide an implement with astalk-chopping portion, having a resiliently mounted fulcrum or pivotpoint adapted to yield in case the cutting edges come in contact with anobstruction, such as a rock.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a stalk-cuttingmechanism having driving means therefor, adapt-ed to be adjusted as toheight without disturbing the driving connections.

.These and further objects, together with the construction andcombination of parts, will be more fully described hereinafter andparticularly set-forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a topplan view; Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation; Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section; Fig. 41 is a rear end view in elevation; Fig. '5is a fragmentary section taken at right-angles to the sectionillustrated in Fig. 6, showing the form of clutch used in connecting theaxle in driving relation with one of the supporting wheels; Fig. 6 is avertical section taken at rightangles to the section illustrated in Fig.5, showing the means for connecting the axle in driving relation withone of the supporting wheels; Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectionshowing the yielding support for the fulcrum of the chopping mechanism;and Fig. 8 is a sect-ion takenat right-angles to the section illustratedin Fig. 7, showing another view of the yielding pivotal support orfulcrum for the chopping mechanism,

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of this invention, asembodied in the form shown in the drawings, 1 indicates a frame, whichis supported in any suitable manner, as by means of wheels 2, connectedby an axle 3. The frame and wheels, which comprise the carriage, may bedrawn over the ground by any suitable-means, such as draft animalsattached to a pole 1 and a tree 5 connected in any suit-able manner tothe I frame 1.

For the purpose of cultivating the rows of growing plants, such ascotton plants, there are provided one or more, preferably a plurality ofplows 6, of any suitable form, which are adjustably supported in apivotal manner at their forward ends in any suitable manner, as by meansof a hook 7 which is adapted to engage in any one of a plurality ofopenings 8.in the plow, and also is adapted to engage in any one of anumber of openings 9 in a transverse beam 10. It will be seen that thisaffords not only a means of vertical adjustment by means of the openings8, but also a means of transverse adjustment due to the openings 9, sothat the plows can be regulated to different widths between the adjacentrows of plants. The beam 10 can be adjusted vertically itself by reasonof the fact that it is supported on screw-threaded hangers 11, andadjustably secured thereto by means of nuts 12. This affords anothermeans of regulating the action of the plows 6. Each of the plows 6 maybe of any suitable structure, but preferably consists of a curved plowbeam or frame 13 and a share 14 pivotally connected to the frame 18 inany suitable manner, as by means of a bracket 15 and a pivot pin 16. Theshare 14 may be held in any pre -determined position in a yieldingmanner by any suitable means, so that when it comes in contact with astone or other obstruction, it can yield without being damaged to anyextent. In this case I have shown a rod 17 connected at one endto thebracket 15 and slidingly engaging in the opening in a lug 18 on theframe 13. Interposed between the lug 18 and the bracket 15, there isprovided! the lever 20 in any suitable manner, as for example by thelatch 24, which engages a vertically-extending rack bar located on anysuitable part of the frame.

For the purpose of chopping the stalks at intervals as the machine movesover the ground, there is provided a chopper 27, which is preferablydouble-acting, and for this purpose is provided with oppositelyfacingcutting blades 28 and 29, which are secured in any suitable manner to alever 30,

which forms the body of the chopper. The lever 30 is preferably providedwith a float 'ing pivotor fulcrum 31, so that if either of the bladesshould come in contact with an obstruction, the device as a whole wouldyield, rendering accidental breakage of the parts absolutely impossible.The floating pivot 31 may be of any suitable character,

such as that illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8'. In this form, there is showna plurality of rods 32, preferably four in number, which are supportedin any suitable manner on a floating frame 53. These rods are disposedso as to form the corners of a rectangular body, and spaced apart for asufiicient distance so that the lever 30 can swing between the two pairsof superposed rods, and also spaced apart vertically a sufficientdistance so that a pivot pin or bolt 33, on which the lever 30 isrotatably mounted, can slide transversely between the horizontallyalined pairs of rods 32. The pivot bolt 33, and thus the fulcriun 0nthe'lever 30, is normally held in a mid position by means of a pluralityof springs 34 and 35 which act in opposite directions on the fulcrumpoint 31 of the lever through the intermission of convex caps 36 and 37,which bear on the sides of the lever. These caps may be provided withsuitable openings, so that they can slide on the rods 32, and by reasonof their convex surfaces, permit the lever to readily rock thereonwithout any appreciable friction. The

chopper 27 may be operated in any suit-able manner, as by means of acrank 38 having a pin 39 engaging a slot 40 in the lever 30. This crankmay be operated in any suitable manner, as by being secured to a crankshaft 41, which is driven by a bevel gear 42 and rotatably mounted on afloating frame 53. The bevel gear 42 meshes with a bevel gear 43.slidingly mounted in driving relation on a shaft 44 in any suitablemanner, as by means of a spline connection, for a purpose to bedescribed and connected to move with the floating frame 53 in a mannerto be described.

- The shaft 44 is provided with a bevel gear 45, which meshes with abevel gear 46 on the axle 3. The axle 3 may be connected in drivingrelation with one or both of the wheels in any suitable manner, as bythat illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, where it will be seen that thereis provided a crown clutch 47 splined onto the axle 3 and adapted toengage a corresponding clutch 48 secured to the hub of the wheel 2. Theclutch 47 may be manipulated in any suitable manner, as by means of alever 49, which engages in a groove 50 on the clutch 47, and which isadapted to be locked in any suitable manner in either position of itsadjustment, as by means of a latch 51, which engages a sectorrack 52secured in any suitable manner to the frame 1.

In order that the chopper 27 can be adjusted so as to cut the stalks atvarying distances from the ground, or so that it can be raised to asufiicien-t height so that it will not' cut the stalks at all, the frame53 is a floating frame, and may be movably mounted on the frame 1 in anysuitable manner, so as to slide vertically.

In the form shown in the drawings, I have provided a plurality ofvertically-extending rods 54 arranged in pairs on each side, whichextend through openings in plate brackets 55 on the frame 53, and aresecured to the frame 1 in any suitable manner, as by means of brackets56. The movement of the floating frame 53 can be further steadied byhaving a transversely-extending member 72 on the frame 53 project at thesides into guideways 73 formed in inwardly facing sides of the brackets56 by vertically-extending parallel ribs 74.

For the purpose of supporting the floating frame 53 and normally tendingto maintain it in its uppermost position, there are provided a pluralityof springs 57 disposed beneath the plate brackets 55 and supported bythe brackets 56. The frame 53 may be locked in any position ofadjustment, as by means of a latch 58, which engages a rack bar 59fixedly connected in any suitable manner to the frame 1. This latch 58can be operated in any suitable manner, as by means ofa handle 60, whichis connected thereto by means of a'link 61, and islocated injuxtaposition to an operators seat 62, which is also convenientlylocated with respect to the other levers 20 and 49. The handle 60 andthe latch 58 may be connected to the frame 53 in any suitable manner, asby being supported in an extension 65 on said frame. In order that thegear 43 will always keep in mesh with the gear 42 during the up anddownmovement of the frame 53,

it is held so as to move with the frame, in

in any suitable manner to the frame 53. By

this arrangement, the gear is permitted to rotate, and yet forced totravel with the frame, which action is permitted by its splineconnection with the shaft 44.

The operation of the device will be readily understood when taken inconnection with the above description. The device may be driven alongthe ground in any suit-able manner, as by means of draft animals, andthe chopping and cultivating action may be carried on eithersimultaneously or one independent of the other. In event the device isonly used to cultivate, the floating frame 53 is permitted to rise toits highest position .by releasing the latch 58, and the drivingmechanism can be disconnected bymanipulating the clutch 47 through thelever 49.

In event it is desired to raise the cultivating hoes 6 out of theground, they can be manipulated simultaneously by means of the lever 20.Any slight adjustment of the pitch of the hoe blades 29 can be regulatedby the hooks 7 and the screw hangers 11. The transverse adjustment ofthe hoes can be also regulated by means of the hooks 7 and the openings9, so as to accommodate rows of plants at varying distances from eachother. When using the chopper 27, the clutch 47 is connected to theclutch 48 so that there is a direct drive between one of the wheels 2and the crank shaft 41. The chopper 27 is then swung from side to side,alternately cutting stalks in rows disposed on opposite sides of thechopper.

If by any chance one of the chopper blades should strike an obstruction,the yielding fulcrum or pivot of the chopper would absorb the shockwithout breaking the blade or stopping the driving mechanism. In view ofthe fact that the gear 43 is splined on the shaft 44, the drivingconnections may always be maintained between the chopper 27 and the axle3 in any adjusted position of the chopper.

While I have shown one embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to belimited to the specific details thereof, but desire to be protected invarious changes, alterations and'modifications which may come within thescope of the appended claims.

Havlng thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination with a carriage, of a floatingframe slidingly mounted on said carriage, springs adapted to urge saidframe in one direction, and a chopper pivotally mounted onsaid floatingframe, said chopper having a iitiating fulcrum adapted to yield whensaid- -choppcr comes 1n contact with an obstacle.

2. The combination with a frame, of a chopper connected to said frame,said chopper comprising a lever and one or more knives secured to saidlever, and a floating fulcrum for said chopper, comprising a pluralityof horizontally-extending rods spaced apart horizontally so as to form apassage for said'lever, and spaced apart vertically so as to form apassage, a pivot bolt for said lever extending in said last-mentionedpassage, and supported by the lowermost of said rods, and springsdisposed on opposite sides of said lever and adapted to resist themovement of said lever and said pivot bolt.

3. The combination with a frame, of a chopper connected to said frame,said chopper comprising a lever and one or more knives secured to saidlever, and a floating fulcrum for said chopper, comprising a pluralityof horizontally-extending rods spaced apart horizontally so as to form apassage for said lever, and spaced apart vertically so as to form apassage, a pivot bolt for said lever extending in said last-mentionedpas-i sage, springs disposed on opposite sides of said lever and adaptedto resist the movement of said lever and said pivot bolt, each of saidsprings surrounding. all of said rods, and fixed caps slidingly mountedon said rods and interposed between said springs and said lever.

4. The combination with a carriage including a frame, an axle, andwheels mounted on said axle, of a chopper pivotally mounted on saidframe and having a plurality of blades so as to be adapted to cut ineither direction, said chopper having a slot therein, a crank engagingsaid slot, a

and still maintain its driving relation, a

bevel gear on said vertical shaft, a bevel gear meshing with saidlast-mentioned gear and mounted on said axle, and a clutch forconnecting said axle with one of said 'wheels, said chopper beingvertically adjustable so as to cut stalks at varying heights from theground.

5. The combination with a carriage, of a vertically disposed drivenshaft therein, a shaft at an angle to said driven shaft, gearconnections between said shafts including a spline upon said verticalshaft, a frame slidingly mounted in the carriage and supporting saidsecond shaft, and a chopper pivotally mounted on said frame and havingconnection with its said shaft, said chopper having a floating fulcrumadapted to yield when the chopper comes in contact with an .7 obstacle.

6. The combination with a carriage, of a vertically disposed drivenshaft therein, a shaft at an angle to said driven shaft, gearconnections between said shafts includin a spline upon said verticalshaft, a frame slidingly mounted in the carriage and supporting saidsecond shaft, springs urging said frame in one direction, means tocontrol the extent of movement of said frame, and a Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

